It’s hard to believe that we’re already done with one month of fall and, by extension, one month of the Fall Into Reading challenge. Is it just me, or did that month go by pretty quickly?

So…how’s your reading going? Have you been curling up with a book and the warm beverage of your choice very often, so far this fall? Or have deadlines, external stresses, school projects, and just plain busyness gotten in the way of your book-time?

As for me, I think I’m doing pretty well. I’ve completed five of my eleven books (though 2 of them were more than halfway finished when the challenge began, so they don’t entirely count).  And I’m knee-deep in three more. Plus, I snuck in one additional book that wasn’t even on my list. So I’d say that — for me — I’ve been reading quite a bit.

One thing I did this time around that has helped is establish a daily page goal. I actually sat down and added up all the pages in the books on my list and divided by 90 days or so. I figured that if I read 30 pages/day, I’d be set. So that’s what I shoot for. Some days I read more, and some…well, far less. (Confession: yesterday, my page total was a measly 2!) I keep track of the number of pages I read every day and I’m averaging out to a little more than 30/day, so I’m well on my way.

I’ve also been sneaking in reading time throughout the day. Typically, I’m a before-bed reader, but I’ve found that in order to keep on top of my page goal, I need to do more than that (since apparently, in my old age, I’m unable to stay awake for a full 30 pages once I’m snuggled under some nice warm covers). So I keep one of my challenge books with me at all times and read a page here and there during the day — while I’m waiting for my coffee to brew, or watching L. (3) run around outside.

I’d love to hear how you’re doing and how you’re managing to squeeze in your reading time this fall!

I’m always amazed at how many people turn out for Fall Into Reading. In less than a week, we’re up to more than 200 participants! That’s fantastic! I just love seeing fellow readers and book-lovers sharing their reading goals. I won’t tell you how many books I’ve added to my wish list and my “think about it” list at Amazon.com — mostly because I’ve lost track! But trust me, it’s a lot.

I’ve managed to visit the first 100 participants, and there is such a variety — in the genres of books, the length of the lists, and the background of the bloggers. The posts have been fun to read! If you haven’t had a chance to visit around, I encourage you to do so. You just might make some new bloggy friends.

I’m also pleased to announce that Fall Into Reading 2009 is doing a good job of demolishing the reading slump I found myself in this summer. And when I say reading slump, I mean that I regularly went days and days without reading a single page in any book. Very out of character for me. With my Fall Into Reading List, I figured that I needed to read an average of 30 pages per day to get through every book, so I set that as my personal goal. I’ve had two days since the start of the challenge where I didn’t quite meet that goal, but I’ve also had a few days where I read well over 100 pages, so I’m definitely on track, and I’m enjoying all the reading I’ve been doing.

Finally, I wanted to share one quick Fall Into Reading story with you. Sandra, who blogs at Musings of a Book Addict, has taken Fall Into Reading to a whole new level. Yes, she’s participating in the challenge personally. But Sandra is a teacher, and so she shared about the challenge with her school students, and even invited them to help her decide how many books she would read for the challenge (it turned out to be 85!). Sandra then encouraged the students to also set some reading goals for this fall. The kids wondered if other teachers in the school would be participating, so Sandra spread the word. When all was said and done, Sandra had set up a school-wide reading challenge, providing encouragement, example, and even book giveaways! She told me that a school custodian was joining the reading fun, and that some parents who heard about it would be participating as well! How awesome is that? It just amazes me to see what a passionate love for reading can do!

I hope Fall Into Reading 2009 is off to as good a start for you as it is for me. Enjoy all your fall reading!

This post is where you can submit links to any book reviews you do for the books you’re reading as part of Fall Into Reading 2009. A few guidelines:

1. This is only for Fall Into Reading 2009 participants. If you haven’t signed up yet, please go HERE to find out what it’s all about, create your own Fall Into Reading blog post, and sign up for the fun.

2. Please link to the specific post that contains your review — not your general blog web address. Links to a general blog address / blog front page will be deleted.

3. Please limit your entries to books you’ve read this fall and have included in your Fall Into Reading post.

4. Please keep your reviews family-friendly. I realize some books may have some touchy or difficult subjects, but please keep your reviews “clean.”

5. This is completely voluntary! You are in no way required to do reviews of your books or to link them up here. (I, for one, am absolutely horrible about writing reviews!) This is just a convenient place to gather reviews, so that all those interested can check them out.

6. I think the best way to do this is to put the book name and your name in the “name” section of the Mr. Linky: something like “A Slow Burn (Katrina)”. Of course, you can do it however you want, but that will make it easy for people to decide which reviews they want to read.

While I’m sure it won’t be necessary, I reserve the right to delete links that don’t adhere to these little “rules.”

Thanks, everyone! I look forward to seeing the reviews!

Welcome to Fall Into Reading 2009! Don’t tell my husband, but I’ve blocked off all of today to sip coffee, read your posts, and get started on working through my own reading list. I hope you’re ready to read, too!

I’m looking forward to seeing what’s on everyone’s reading lists this fall, and finding some new and irresistible books to add to my TBR (to-be-read) pile.

Whatever you’re reading for this challenge, I hope you enjoy each and every book!

Here’s a brief recap of how to be a part of Fall Into Reading 2009:

• Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this fall. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like. (Also, feel free to modify your list during the challenge if it’s not working for you.)

• Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to this post using the Mr. Linky below.

• Get reading! The challenge goes from today, September 22nd, through December 20th.

• Check out other participants’ lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile!

• Write a post about your challenge experience in December, telling us all about whether you reached your goals and how Fall Into Reading went for you. But remember: this is a low-pressure challenge that should be fun. As long as you do some reading this fall (and enjoy it!), that’s good enough for me.

There’s a Mr. Linky at the end of this post. Please use it to link to your blog post containing your Fall Into Reading list. Remember to link to your specific post, not just your general blog homepage. People will be stopping by for days (or weeks!) and when you link to your specific post, it will make it easier for everyone to find your reading list. Also, if you don’t mind, please link back here from your post so that your readers can come check out all the other participants.

So post your list, grab a mug of your favorite autumn beverage, and check out all the other bloggers who love to read as much as you do!

For more information about Fall Into Reading 2009, check out these previous posts:

• The Basics
• Posting Guidelines
• Prizes & Giveaways

Note: There is NO limit to when people can sign up to participate in Fall Into Reading 2009. You’re welcome to join in any time between now and December! The “deadlines” mentioned in the prize/giveaways post are only for prize eligibility.

Watch for a Fall Into Reading 2009 Reviews post, which I’ll put up Thursday. It will provide a place where you can link up to any reviews you write about your Fall Into Reading books. (And the review thing? Completely optional.)

That should cover all the details. Link up below and let’s get reading!

Was your link deleted? Check the Posting Guidelines to make sure you followed the rules. If you think your link was deleted by mistake, feel free to contact me.

Note: My previous issues with Mr. Linky have been resolved, so I’m going to give him another shot! Sorry for the flip-flopping!

Okay, I’m trying to be realistic this time around. I want to complete two books I’m currently reading, and I’ve only chosen nine new books for the Fall Into Reading 2009 challenge — to leave room for flexibility (blog tours, mood changes, etc.), but also to give myself a fair chance at finishing them. If the reading slump I was in this summer is any indication, it’ll take a tremendous amount of effort just to get through these eleven books. But I’m hoping that cooler weather, a consistent routine, and the draw of coffee and baked goods will lull me back to a life of more reading and less slumping. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even read more than is on my list!

Books I need to finish:

Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson
A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller

These two books have been in my sidebar and on my nightstand for forever a long time. I’ve been reading — and enjoying — them…just not very quickly. I need to be better about setting aside time for reading, and then reading the books on my nightstand and list, rather than the half-hearted, sporadic dabbling I’ve been doing lately.

Now for the new books I’ve picked…

Non-fiction

Always a bit of a challenge for me, but I’m looking forward to each of these books.

Finding An Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Athiest by Alicia Britt Chole. I was first intrigued by this book when Bethany House offered it as a giveaway during Spring Reading Thing 2009. Since then, I’ve heard lots of good things about it from a number of people, including my friend, Lisa.
The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University by Kevin Roose. I have been incredibly curious about this book since the day I heard an interview with the author on NPR. The premise: a non-Christian goes “undercover” at the overtly Christian Liberty University (founded by the well-known and often-controversial Jerry Falwell). Why am I so curious? I attended Liberty University and, in fact, met my husband there. Though I did my fair share of complaining about certain rules, I had a fantastic college experience, and am looking forward to reading about Roose’s experience and reactions.
Experiencing God Around the Kitchen Table by Marilynn Blackaby. This is a book that has been on my bookshelf for a long time, but I’ve just never read it. It looks like it’s part memoir, part encouragement, written to Christian women, by the wife of Experiencing God author Henry Blackaby.
Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper. I’ve read (and enjoyed) a number of books by John Piper, and I’m eager to read this book by his wife. In it, Noel examines how we can weave a love for and celebration of God into our everyday family traditions. Amazon reviewers have good things to say, and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.
Number Freak by Derrick Niederman. Okay, here is where I confess to you that I am a geek. A total geek. There is no other explanation as to why I would choose this book. I mean, just look at the subtitle: From 1 to 200 — The Hidden Language of Numbers Revealed. That’s right. This is a book about the first 200 numbers. Each chapter tackles a number. And talks about it. Yep. And I think it looks interesting. Go ahead — you can laugh now.

Fiction

In no particular order

Boneman’s Daughters by Ted Dekker. For me, Ted Dekker’s novels are either, “Awesome! Amazing! Page-turner!” or occasionally, “Man, that was just too weird.” We’ll see what this one ends up being… but it looks really good!
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I had no interest in reading The Hunger Games. It just didn’t appeal to me. Until both Jennifer and Lisa told me it was incredible. So I tried it…and was completely and utterly hooked. Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth. Though I, admittedly, am drawn more to thrillers and mysteries than literary novels, I really liked Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth (check out my review of it). There’s definitely some mystery, but the way Mary writes just drew me completely in. A Slow Burn is the second book in the Defiance Texas Trilogy, and looks like a fantastic follow-up to Daisy Chain.
Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis. A hold-over from my Spring Reading Thing list. I really want to get to it this time, especially since I read these posts by Jeanne Damoff over at The Master’s Artist, after she recently re-visited Lewis’s Space Trilogy.

That’s it. Nine new books. More non-fiction than fiction, though I wonder if my actual reading will follow that pattern.

Don’t forget to visit the official launch post for Fall Into Reading 2009 to check out all the other participants!